Top mounted faucet assembly with air gap

ABSTRACT

A faucet assembly includes a base having first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the ends, a mounting bore extending from the first end, a permeate water spout port extending from the second end, and a valve assembly bore extending from the sidewall and connecting the mounting bore and the permeate water spout port. A fastener is located within the mounting bore and extends out of the base from the mounting bore for securing the faucet assembly to a mounting surface, and a valve member is positioned within the valve assembly bore and movable between closed and opened positions. The valve member allows tool access from the permeate water spout port, through the valve member, and to the fastener in the mounting bore when the valve member is moved to a predetermined position. This arrangement allows top-mounting of the faucet assembly using a toggle bolt.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/245,318, filed Oct. 6, 2005, which claims priority fromco-pending provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/616,715,filed Oct. 7, 2004. Both applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to faucet assemblies and, moreparticularly, to a top mounted faucet assembly having an air gap for usewith a reverse osmosis water filtering system.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In addition to the hot and cold water faucets normally provided on atypical household countertop sink, an auxiliary faucet may be providedfor an auxiliary water supply such as water hot enough for making coffeeor tea, refrigerated water, or tap water which has been furtherprocessed to remove impurities and foreign tastes. A reverse osmosis(RO) tap water filtering system, for example, normally is provided withits own faucet for installation through the counter top, next to thesink. These auxiliary faucets normally require an air gap feature andpreferably are mounted from above the counter top for convenience.

As is known, an RO filtering process uses a semi-permeable membrane thathas the ability to remove and reject a wide spectrum of impurities andcontaminants from water using only water pressure. These contaminantsare automatically rinsed down the drain. The purified water is thenstored in a tank for dispensing through the auxiliary faucet.

FIG. 21 shows a typical RO water filtering system 10 constructed inaccordance with the prior art. The system 10 includes a filter assembly14, a reverse osmosis membrane 18, a reverse osmosis storage tank 22, aflow restrictor 26, a shut-off valve 28, a carbon filter 70 and anauxiliary faucet 72. The filter assembly 14 includes a sediment filter30 and carbon filters 34 a, 34 b. Intake water enters the system 10 froma cold-water angle stop valve 36, which is connected to a cold-watersource 84, and is routed through an intake tube 38 to filter system 14.The cold-water angle stop valve 36 is also connected to a standardfaucet 62 through a cold-water faucet line 64 providing cold water tothe standard faucet.

The sediment filter 30 removes sediment such as sand and dirt and thelike from the intake water, while the carbon filters 34 a and 34 bremove chlorine and other contaminants that cause bad color, odor andtaste. The filtered water is then routed to the membrane 18 through awater tube 40.

The membrane 18 includes three ports: an intake port 42, a permeateoutlet port 46, and a concentrate outlet port 50. The intake port 42receives filtered intake water from the filter assembly 14 through thewater tube 40. The permeate water is routed from outlet port 46 throughpermeate tubes 52a and 52b and shut-off valve 28 to tank 22 to be storedunder pressure. The shut-off valve 28 is automatic and stops the flow ofwater to the membrane 18 and to the tank 22 when the tank is full. Whenthe auxiliary faucet 72 is opened by a user, permeate water is forcedfrom the tank 22, through a carbon filter 70, and though the faucet 72.Concentrate water is routed from the outlet port 50 through a wastewatertube 78, having a flow restrictor 26, through a drain tube 74 forsubsequent disposal down drain 68.

Most plumbing codes specify that an antisiphon or air gap must belocated between the wastewater tube 78 and the drain tube 74. Thisprevents development of a vacuum in the lines that could cause drain orwastewater to be siphoned back into the RO system 10 and contaminate thewater supply 84 connected to the RO system. The auxiliary faucet 72,therefore, also includes an air gap connecting the wastewater tube 78and the drain tube 74.

In installing such auxiliary faucets, it is highly desirable to be ableto secure the faucet over a hole in the counter without it beingnecessary to install a first portion of the securing means from belowthe counter and another portion from above the counter. With it beingpossible to secure the faucet from above the counter, it makes it mucheasier for one person to install the faucet, greatly decreasing theamount of labor involved in installing the faucet.

What is still desired is a new and improved faucet assembly. Among otheradvantages and benefits, the new and improved faucet assembly willpreferably allow top mounting and include an air gap feature.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a new and improved faucet assemblyincluding a base having first and second ends, a sidewall extendingbetween the ends, a mounting bore extending from the first end, apermeate water spout port extending from the second end, and a valveassembly bore extending from the sidewall and connecting the mountingbore and the permeate water spout port. A fastener is located within themounting bore and extends out of the base from the mounting bore forsecuring the faucet assembly to a mounting surface, and a valve memberis positioned within the valve assembly bore and movable between closedand opened positions. The valve member allows tool access from thepermeate water spout port, through the valve member, and to the fastenerin the mounting bore when the valve member is moved to a predeterminedposition. Among other aspects and advantages, this arrangement allowstop mounting of the faucet assembly using a toggle bolt.

The present disclosure also provides a new and improved faucet assemblyincluding a base having an air gap bore extending from a first end ofthe base, and an air gap port extending from a sidewall of the base tothe air gap bore. An air gap holder is received in the air gap bore, andincludes a first end having a concentrate water inlet port and awastewater outlet port. A concentrate water inlet tube is received inthe concentrate water inlet port of the air gap holder, and a wastewateroutlet tube is received in the wastewater outlet port of the air gapholder below the air gap port. In operation, concentrate water from theconcentrate water inlet tube is directed to an end of the air gap boreabove the air gap port and then allowed to flow to the waste wateroutlet tube. Among other aspects and advantages, this air gaparrangement can be more inexpensively manufactured and more easilyassembled. In addition, the air gap arrangement has been found toprovide relatively quiet operation when the concentrate water is drainedto the wastewater outlet tube.

The present disclosure additionally provides a new and improved faucetassembly including a base having a permeate water inlet port. A permeatewater inlet tube has an end received in the permeate water inlet port ofthe base, and the permeate water inlet port includes annular ribs havingsloping sidewalls terminating at radial end walls to form pointed barbsthat frictionally engage the permeate inlet tube. The sloping sidewallsextend inwardly into the base at an angle of about 7° with respect to anaxis of the port. Among other aspects and advantages, the permeate waterinlet port provides a strong and secure seal between the port and thetube, without requiring a separate sealant or glue, yet is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture and easy to assembly.

The present disclosure also provides a reverse osmosis (RO) tap waterfiltering system including a faucet assembly constructed in accordancewith the present invention. The RO system includes a reverse osmosismembrane having a permeate water output port connected to the faucetassembly and a concentrate water output port connected to the faucetassembly.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description, wherein only an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure is shown and described, simply by way of illustrationof the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present disclosure.As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other anddifferent embodiments, and its several details are capable ofmodifications in various obvious respects, all without departing fromthe disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having thesame reference character designations represent like elementsthroughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view from a first side of an exemplary embodimentof a faucet assembly constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view from a second side, opposite the first side,of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the faucet assemblytaken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged sectional view of a portion of the faucetassembly contained in circle “5” of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1 shownmounted through an opening of a counter, a sink, or other anothermounting surface;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1 shown witha faucet spout removed to allow access of a screwdriver, as shown,during mounting of the faucet assembly on a mounting surface;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1 shown withthe faucet spout removed and the screwdriver inserted into the assemblyand engaging a toggle bolt of the assembly;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the screwdriver andthe faucet assembly contained in circle “9” of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion the faucet assemblytaken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10, wherein an arrow is provided toillustrate normal flow of concentrate water through an air gap assemblyof the faucet assembly;

FIG. 12 a further enlarged view of a portion of the faucet assemblycontained in circle 12 of FIG. 11, wherein an arrow is provided toillustrate reverse flow of backed-up drain water through the air gapassembly of the faucet assembly;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of a holder of the air gapassembly of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the holder of the air gapassembly of the faucet assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an exploded side elevation view of another exemplaryembodiment of an air gap assembly and a faucet base constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the faucet base and the air gap assemblyof FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the faucet base and the air gapassembly taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of another exemplary embodiment of afaucet assembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of the faucet assembly taken alongline 19-19 of FIG. 18, showing a permeate inlet port of the assembly;

FIG. 20 is a further enlarged sectional view of the permeate inlet portof the faucet assembly of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 21 shows an exemplary embodiment of a reverse osmosis waterfiltering system constructed in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of an auxiliaryfaucet assembly for use with an auxiliary water supply such as instanthot water dispenser, a refrigerated water dispenser, or tap waterfiltering system. A reverse osmosis (RO) tap water filtering system, forexample, normally is provided with its own faucet for installationthrough the counter top, next to the sink. The presently disclosedauxiliary faucet assembly is for use as part of an RO filtering system,such as the prior art system 10 shown in FIG. 21. Among other aspectsand advantages, the presently disclosed faucet assembly includes meansfor mounting the faucet assembly from above a mounting surface(“top-mounting”), an improved air gap feature, and improved tubeconnecting arrangement. FIGS. 1-14 show a first exemplary embodiment 100of the faucet assembly, while FIGS. 15-17 show a second exemplaryembodiment 200, and FIGS. 18-20 show a third exemplary embodiment 300.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, the faucet assembly 100 generally includesa base 102 having first and second ends 104, 106, a sidewall 108extending between the ends, a mounting bore 110 extending from the firstend 104, a permeate water spout port 112 extending from the second end106, and a valve assembly bore 114 extending from the sidewall 108 andconnecting the mounting bore 110 and the permeate water spout port 112.A fastener 116 is located within the mounting bore 110 and extends outof the base 102 from the mounting bore 110 for securing the faucetassembly 100 to a mounting surface, and a valve member 118 is positionedwithin the valve assembly bore 114 and movable between closed and openedpositions. The valve member 118 allows tool access from the permeatewater spout port 112, through the valve member 118, and to the fastener116 in the mounting bore 110 when the valve member 118 is moved to apredetermined position (after a faucet spout of the assembly has beentemporarily removed from the permeate water spout port 112). FIG. 5 isan enlarged view of a head 120 of the fastener 116, while the FIGS. 7-9show a tool comprising a screwdriver 90 extending through the permeatewater spout port 112, through the valve member 118, and to the head 120of the fastener 116 in the mounting bore 110. Among other advantages,this arrangement allows top mounting of the faucet assembly 100 using atoggle bolt assembly. FIG. 6 shows the assembly 100 secured through anopening 94 of a mounting surface 92 using the fastener 116.

As shown best in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8 the fastener comprises a toggle boltassembly 116 including a toggle bolt 122 and a toggle nut 124. Thetoggle nut 124 is threaded onto the bolt 122 and can be folded to fitthrough the opening 94 in the mounting surface 92 and then springs openwhen released. Turning the toggle bolt 122 with the screwdriver 90 thendraws the unfolded toggle nut 124 up against the underside of themounting surface 92 so that the faucet assembly 100 is secured in placeon the upper side of the mounting surface 92. As shown in FIG. 6, theassembly 100 is offset in the opening of the mounting surface 92 so thata permeate water tube 130, a concentrate water tube 140, and awastewater tube 150 can fit through the opening for connection to thefaucet assembly 100.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the predetermined position of thevalve member 118 that allows access to the head 120 of the toggle bolt122 corresponds to the closed position of the valve member 118. Movingthe valve member 118 to the opened position blocks access to the togglebolt 122. Alternatively, the valve member 118 could be adapted so thatthe predetermined position of the valve member 118 that allows access tothe toggle bolt 122 corresponds to the opened position of the valvemember 118, or corresponds to neither the opened or closed positions.

The base 102 further comprises a permeate water inlet port 132 extendingfrom the first end 104 and connected to the valve assembly bore 114 asshown in FIG. 4. The permeate water tube 130 is secured in the permeatewater inlet port 132. Fluid communication is provided between thepermeate water inlet port 132 and the permeate water spout port 112 whenthe valve member 118 is moved to the opened position.

As shown best in FIGS. 10-12, the base 102 also has an air gap bore 160extending from the first end 104, and an air gap port 162 extending fromthe sidewall 108 to the air gap bore 160. An air gap holder 170 isreceived in the air gap bore 160, and includes a first end 172 having aconcentrate water inlet port 142 and a wastewater outlet port 152. Theconcentrate water inlet tube 140 is received in the concentrate waterinlet port 142 of the air gap holder 170, and the wastewater outlet tube150 is received in the wastewater outlet port 152 of the air gap holder170 below the air gap port 162. In operation, concentrate water from theconcentrate water inlet tube 140 is directed to an end 164 of the airgap bore 160 above the air gap port 162 and then allowed to flow to thewaste water outlet tube 150, as illustrated by arrow “Normal Flow” inFIG. 11. During backflow operation (when there is a blockage inconnected drain pipes, for example), wastewater from the wastewateroutlet tube 150 is directed out the air gap port 162 and out of thefaucet assembly 100, as illustrated by arrow “Backflow” in FIG. 12, andis prevented from going back to the concentrate water inlet port 142.Among other advantages, this air gap arrangement can be inexpensivelymanufactured and easily assembled. In addition, the air gap arrangementhas been found to provide relatively quiet operation when theconcentrate water is normally drained to the wastewater outlet tube 150.The wastewater outlet tube 150 has a greater cross-section than theconcentrate water inlet tube 140 to further prevent backflow into theconcentrate water inlet tube 140.

As also shown in FIGS. 13-14, the exemplary embodiment of the air gapholder 170 further includes a closed second end forming a cup 174 havinga cup inlet 176 connected to the concentrate water inlet port 142 and acup outlet 178 connected to the wastewater outlet port 152. A sidewall180 extends upwardly from the first end 172 to the second end 174 andincludes a lower portion 182 having an outer diameter substantiallyequal to an inner diameter of the air gap bore 160 and an upper portion184 having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the air gapbore 160. The upper portion 184 of the sidewall 180 has a wastewaterbackflow door 186 located below the cup outlet 178, and an end of thewastewater outlet tube 150 is positioned below the wastewater backflowdoor 186 of the air gap holder 170. The air gap holder 170 is arrangedso that the wastewater backflow door 186 faces away from the air gapport 162. Thus, during normal operation the sound of concentrate waterfalling from the cup outlet 178 to the wastewater outlet tube 150 doesnot travel directly out of the air gap port 162 but is baffled by theupper portion 184 of the sidewall 180, thereby reducing noise duringnormal operation. O-rings 188, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 11-12, areprovided to seal the air gap holder 170 in the base 102.

FIGS. 15-17 show a second exemplary embodiment of a faucet assembly 200constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The faucetassembly 200 of FIGS. 15-17 is similar to the faucet assembly 100 ofFIGS. 1- 14 such that similar elements are provided with the samereference character. In the faucet assembly 200 of FIGS. 15-17 an airgap bore 260 includes a concentrate water portion 266 and a wastewaterportion 268, the concentrate water portion 266 extending further fromthe first end 104 than the wastewater portion 268, and the air gap port162 extends to the wastewater portion 268 of the air gap bore 260. Aconcentrate water inlet port 242 of an air gap holder 270 is alignedwith the concentrate water portion 266 of the air gap bore 260 and awastewater outlet port 252 of the air gap holder 270 is aligned with thewastewater portion 268 of the air gap bore 260. The concentrate waterinlet tube 140 has an end extending into the concentrate water portion266 of the air gap bore 260 to an end 264 of the air gap bore, above thewastewater portion 268 of the air gap bore and above the air gap port162. In operation, concentrate water from the concentrate water inlettube 140 is directed to the end 264 of the concentrate water portion 266of the air gap bore 260 above the air gap port 162, and then allowed toflow down to the wastewater portion 268 and to the wastewater outlettube 150, as illustrated by arrow “Normal” in FIG. 17. Although notshown, any backflow from the wastewater outlet tube 150 simple exits thefaucet assembly 200 through the air gap port 162 before it rises to theend 264 of the concentrate water portion 266 of the air gap bore 260.

FIGS. 18-20 show a third exemplary embodiment of a faucet assembly 300constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The faucetassembly 300 of FIGS. 18-20 is similar to the faucet assembly 100 ofFIGS. 1-14 such that similar elements are provided with the samereference character. In the faucet assembly 300 of FIGS. 18-20 a base302 includes a permeate water inlet port 332 having annular ribs 334. Asshown best in FIG. 20, the ribs 334 have sloping sidewalls 336terminating at radial end walls 338 to form pointed barbs thatfrictionally engage the permeate inlet tube 130 when inserted into theport 332. The sloping sidewalls 336 extend inwardly into the base 302 atan angle “α” of about 7° with respect to an axis “A” of the port 332.Among other advantages, the ribs 334 provide a strong and secure sealbetween the port 332 and the tube 130, without requiring a separatesealant or glue, yet is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easyto assembly. According to one exemplary embodiment, the permeate waterinlet tube 130 that is inserted into the port 332 is made frompolypropylene.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the permeate water inlet port 332 ofthe base 302 includes a first portion 332 a defining the ribs 334 and asecond portion 332 b connecting the first portion 332 a to the valveassembly bore 114. A cross-section of the second portion 332 b issmaller than a cross-section of the first portion 332 a. Thisarrangement allows the cross-section of the permeate water flow path toremain substantially constant as it passes from the tube 130 to the port332.

Referring back to FIG. 2, additional parts of the exemplary embodimentof the faucet assemblies include a faucet spout and o-rings, and a baseplate and a gasket. A gasket and an o-ring are provided for the togglebolt. In addition to the valve member, a valve assembly of the faucetassembly includes a spring, a slide seal, a seal, an o-ring, a bushing,a nut, and a handle.

The present disclosure, therefore, provides a new and improved topmounted faucet assembly having an air gap for use with a reverse osmosiswater filtering system. It should be understood, however, that theexemplary embodiments described in this specification have beenpresented by way of illustration rather than limitation, and variousmodifications, combinations and substitutions may be effected by thoseskilled in the art without departure either in spirit or scope from thisdisclosure in its broader aspects and as set forth in the appendedclaims. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of thefollowing claims. In addition, the faucet assembly disclosed herein, andall elements thereof, is contained within the scope of at least one ofthe following claims. No elements of the presently disclosed faucetassembly are meant to be disclaimed.

1. A faucet assembly comprising: a base including, opposing first andsecond ends, a sidewall extending between the ends, a mounting boreextending upwardly from the first end into the base, a permeate waterspout port extending upwardly from within the base to the second end ofthe base, wherein the mounting bore and the permeate water spout portare aligned, a valve assembly bore extending into the base from thesidewall and connecting the mounting bore and the permeate water spoutport; a fastener including a head located within the mounting bore and abody extending out of the base from the mounting bore for securing thefaucet assembly to a mounting surface; and a valve member positionedwithin the valve assembly bore and movable between closed and openedpositions, wherein the valve member allows tool access from the permeatewater spout port, through the valve member, and to the head of thefastener in the mounting bore when the valve member is moved to apredetermined position.
 2. A faucet assembly according to claim 1,wherein the predetermined position of the valve member corresponds tothe closed position of the valve member.
 3. A faucet assembly accordingto claim 1, further comprising a toggle nut assembly secured to the bodyof the fastener.
 4. A faucet assembly according to claim 1, wherein thepermeate water spout port, the valve member, and the mounting bore areadapted to allow a tool comprising a screwdriver to access the head ofthe fastener.
 5. A faucet assembly according to claim 1, wherein thebase further comprises a permeate water inlet port extending from thefirst end and connected to the valve assembly bore, wherein fluidcommunication is provided between the permeate water inlet port and thepermeate water spout port when the valve member is moved to the openedposition.
 6. A faucet assembly according to claim 1, wherein thepermeate water inlet port includes annular ribs comprising slopingsidewalls terminating at radial end walls to form pointed barbs, andwherein the sloping sidewalls extends inwardly at an angle of about 7°with respect to an axis of the port.
 7. A faucet assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the base further comprises an air gap bore extendingfrom the first end and an air gap port extending from the sidewall tothe air gap bore and the faucet assembly further comprises: an air gapholder received in the air gap bore, the air gap holder including, afirst end having a concentrate water inlet port and a wastewater outletport, a closed second end forming a cup having a cup inlet connected tothe concentrate water inlet port and a cup outlet connected to thewastewater outlet port, and a sidewall extending upwardly from the firstend to the second end and including a lower portion having an outerdiameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the air gap boreand an upper portion having an outer diameter less than the innerdiameter of the air gap bore, the upper portion of the sidewall having awastewater backflow door located below the cup outlet; a concentratewater inlet tube received in the concentrate water inlet port of the airgap holder; and a wastewater outlet tube received in the wastewateroutlet port of the air gap holder below the wastewater backflow door ofthe air gap holder.
 8. A faucet assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe base further comprises an air gap bore extending from the first endand including a concentrate water portion and a wastewater portion, theconcentrate water portion extending further from the first end than thewastewater portion, and an air gap port extending from the sidewall tothe wastewater portion of the air gap bore, and wherein the faucetassembly further comprises: an air gap holder received in the air gapbore, the air gap holder including a concentrate water inlet portaligned with the concentrate water portion of the air gap bore and awastewater outlet port aligned with the wastewater portion of the airgap bore; a concentrate water inlet tube received in the concentratewater inlet port of the air gap holder and having an end extending intothe concentrate water portion of the air gap bore and positioned abovethe wastewater portion of the air gap bore; and a wastewater outlet tubereceived in the wastewater outlet port of the air gap holder below theair gap port.
 9. A reverse osmosis water filtering system including afaucet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the faucet assemblyincludes a permeate water inlet port and a concentrate water inlet port,and the filtering system further comprises: a reverse osmosis membranehaving a permeate water output port connected to the permeate waterinlet port of the faucet assembly, and a concentrate water output portconnected to the concentrate water inlet port of the faucet assembly.10. A faucet assembly comprising: a base including, a permeate waterspout port, a permeate water inlet port, a valve assembly bore extendinginto the base from the sidewall and connecting the permeate water inletport and the permeate water spout port, an air gap bore extending from afirst end of the base, and an air gap port extending from a sidewall ofthe base to the air gap bore; a valve member positioned within the valveassembly bore and movable between closed and opened positions, whereinfluid communication is provided between the permeate water inlet portand the spout port when the valve member is moved to the openedposition; an air gap holder received in the air gap bore, the air gapholder including a first end having a concentrate water inlet port and awastewater outlet port; a concentrate water inlet tube received in theconcentrate water inlet port of the air gap holder; and a wastewateroutlet tube received in the wastewater outlet port of the air gap holderbelow the air gap port, wherein concentrate water from the concentratewater inlet tube is directed to an end of the air gap bore above the airgap port and then allowed to flow to the wastewater outlet tube.
 11. Afaucet assembly according to claim 10, wherein the permeate water inletport includes annular ribs comprising sloping sidewalls terminating atradial end walls to form pointed barbs, and wherein the slopingsidewalls extends inwardly at an angle of about 7° with respect to anaxis of the port.
 12. A faucet assembly according to claim 10, wherein:the air gap bore includes a concentrate water portion and a wastewaterportion, the concentrate water portion extending further from the firstend than the wastewater portion, and the air gap port extends to thewastewater portion of the air gap bore; the concentrate water inlet portof the air gap holder is aligned with the concentrate water portion ofthe air gap bore and the wastewater outlet port of the air gap holder isaligned with the wastewater portion of the air gap bore; and theconcentrate water inlet tube has an end extending into the concentratewater portion of the air gap bore to the end of the air gap bore, abovethe wastewater portion of the air gap bore and above the air gap port.13. A faucet assembly according to claim 10, wherein the air gap holderfurther includes a closed second end forming a cup having a cup inletconnected to the concentrate water inlet port and a cup outlet connectedto the wastewater outlet port, and a sidewall extending upwardly fromthe first end to the second end and including a lower portion having anouter diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the air gapbore and an upper portion having an outer diameter less than the innerdiameter of the air gap bore, the upper portion of the sidewall having awastewater backflow door located below the cup outlet, and an end of thewastewater outlet tube is positioned below the wastewater backflow doorof the air gap holder.
 14. A faucet assembly according to claim 10,wherein the wastewater outlet tube has a greater cross-section than theconcentrate water inlet tube.
 15. A faucet assembly according to claim10, further comprising a toggle bolt assembly for securing the faucetassembly to a mounting surface.
 16. A reverse osmosis water filteringsystem including a faucet assembly according to claim 10, and furthercomprising a reverse osmosis membrane having a permeate water outputport connected to the permeate water inlet port of the faucet assembly,and a concentrate water output port connected to the concentrate waterinlet port of the faucet assembly.
 17. A faucet assembly comprising: abase including, a permeate water spout port, a permeate water inletport, and a valve assembly bore extending into the base from thesidewall and connecting the permeate water inlet port and the permeatewater spout port; a valve member positioned within the valve assemblybore and movable between closed and opened positions, wherein fluidcommunication is provided between the permeate water inlet port and thespout port when the valve member is moved to the opened position; and apermeate water inlet tube having an end received in the permeate waterinlet port of the base, wherein the permeate water inlet port includesannular ribs having sloping sidewalls terminating at radial end walls toform pointed barbs that frictionally engage the permeate inlet tube. 18.A faucet assembly according to claim 17, wherein the permeate waterinlet port of the base includes a first portion defining the ribs and asecond portion connecting the first portion to the valve assembly bore,and wherein a cross-section of the second portion is smaller than across-section of the first portion.
 19. A faucet assembly according toclaim 17, wherein the sloping sidewalls extend inwardly into the base atan angle of about 7° with respect to an axis of the port.
 20. A reverseosmosis water filtering system including a faucet assembly according toclaim 17, and further comprising a reverse osmosis membrane having apermeate water output port connected to an opposing end of the permeatewater inlet tube of the faucet assembly.